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Expert urges Ashland to join water intertie By PETER WONG ASHLAND -- A consultant recommended Monday that Ashland proceed to join the water intertie that will link Phoenix and Talent with Medford's water system but hold off on its actual linkage with Talent. Carollo Engineers of Portland, which helped prepare a study of city water needs through 2050, said alternatives involving the intertie are cheaper than reuse of the city's treated wastewater or delivery of Talent Irrigation District water in a pipe instead of a canal. The public will have its say and the City Council will consider a decision Dec. 15. Ashland's participation will determine the size of the pipe through Talent. The project is in its final stages of design. Actual linkage will require a pump station and pipeline extension to Ashland. Mayor Cathy Shaw said that given the city's efforts to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant and use the effluent for irrigation, the report came as a surprise. "When I first saw the cost of bringing water to Ashland through the Medford pipeline -- how less expensive it was, how much more reliable it was, how much easier it was -- it's really troubling," she said at Monday's council study session. "It's really troubling because we have invested six years in making this decision to keep our effluent here for reuse." Butler Creek residents are opposing the city's plans to irrigate a hillside east of the city with treated wastewater from the upgraded plant, which will be completed by the end of 2000. But Councilman Don Laws said the report did not contradict the city's course. "The cost of that (reclaimed wastewater) is probably going to go down considerably in the next 30 years," he said. "So by the time we actually have to have that water, the technology and the cost will be much more efficient and economical that they are right now." Treated wastewater can be used only for irrigation; the water from the intertie requires only chlorination for domestic use. Here is a summary of the costs that Carollo Engineers has estimated for each project; annual costs for water are additional. Reuse of city's treated wastewater for irrigation; reallocation of Talent Irrigation District water rights -- $11.6 million. TID pipeline (about 14 miles) from Greensprings to Ashland, use of reallocated TID water -- $17.9 million. TID pipeline, use of reallocated TID water, reuse of city's treated wastewater (combination) -- $18.7 million. Talent-Ashland-Phoenix (TAP) pipeline connection -- $7.4 million if the city draws 3 million gallons daily for five months; $12.8 million for 8.7 million gallons daily for five months; $12.9 million for 5.5 million gallons daily all year. TAP pipeline connection with use of reallocated TID water -- $12.1 million. TAP pipeline buy-in only with use of reallocated TID water for domestic uses, the alternative that Carollo Engineers recommended -- $8.7 million. TAP pipeline buy-in only with 50-50 split of reallocated TID water for domestic uses and irrigation -- $12.9 million. TAP pipeline buy-in only with 45-55 split of reallocated TID water for domestic uses and irrigation, or reuse of city's treated wastewater for irrigation -- $15.2 million. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA